Novelty

Every year I try to grow something new.  There is never any shortage of candidates.  Here are some of my experiments this year.  These Sempervivum (or houseleeks or hen and chicks) result from a request to grow 30 plants as gifts.  We had one red hen with chicks and a packet of seeds.  The pots are about 4cm wide by the way.  Sadly the occasion for giving these away has been usurped so we will have to give them houseroom at least until school goes back to normal next term.

This second is an allium.  Being a veg grower alliums represent a good halfway house to the flower world.  Having ordered a bumper mixed bag last autumn these ones are the wierdest.  I must look out the packaging to find the name.

Last but not least, here are some edamame beans (or soya beans if you prefer).  I planted them out today and was delighted to find a blog describing the harvest of the same plant in Indonesia  here . Thanks Endah. Now we just need a tropical summer!

In the Summertime - 4 Seasons in One

The summer solstice has arrived and it is time to review the four seasons square foot beds: 

Summer

Swiss Chard			Garlic			Onions
Parsley			Pea Jaguar			Strawberry
Radish			Leaf Beet			Elephant Garlic

These items should be ready for harvesting in a week's time. All except the radish which seedlings the birds demolished!

Flower Power

Anyone familiar with my blog will be aware that I have progressed from the "If you can't eat it don't grow it" school.  In recent times, most directly from my involvement in the school (where they have about 10 tubs in the playground) I have taken up flowers from seed with a renewed vigour.  Lobelia, Marigolds, Cineraria have become trusted annuals.  Getting more adventurous I have become more ambitious of late.  Here's a couple of challenges I am revisiting. 

Coleus seedlings

Strictly speaking these are leaves not flowers, but you know what I mean. Last year I tried to grow these and they failed completely. It was either the cold summer or the slugs or both.  I am reassured by Endah's recent post illustrating that the natural home for these is the tropics.  So I am keeping these in the greenhouse with high humidity.

Another import that is behaving strangely is Linaria Spanish Dancer.  Two different sprouts appeared, one with pointy leaves the other rounded. 

My first thought was that I had double sowed with two different flowers

But these were transplanted seedlings and even I am not as daft as to do that.  Besides the result is consistent for a whole tray!

I will be keeping an eye on these as they progress.  You learn something new every year.